The Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt has decided to extend the suspension of prayers during Holy Week before Orthodox Easter in order to combat the spread of the new coronavirus.
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The Coptic Orthodox Church, which has closed all its churches since March 21, announced this decision taken during the Holy Synod which met on Thursday in the presence of Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II. Thus, " all prayers in church, including those of Holy Week (April 12-19), which are considered the most important ritual of the Coptic Orthodox Church, will be suspended "until the pandemic is contained, a she announced.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has also indicated that only the families of the deceased can attend their funerals. These are "unprecedented and historic," said Church spokesman Boulos Halim.
10 to 15% of the Egyptian population
Egypt officially registered 1,070 cases of new coronavirus, including 71 deaths.
Coptic Christians, who constitute the largest Christian minority in the Near East, represent 10 to 15% of an Egyptian population of some 100 million.
On March 25, the country imposed a two-week night curfew to contain the epidemic. Violators face heavy fines and even prison terms. To limit the spread of the virus, Cairo has also decided, among other things, to close schools, universities, museums, airports.